City Allots $1 Million For Area 4 Teen Center

City Manager Robert W. Healy has endorsed a plan to build an Area Four teen center last week, saying he intends to ask the City Council to allocate up to $1 million for the project within two years.

In a letter to Ron Benham, former chair of the Neighborhood Coalition, Healy said he would make sure that the center was docketed for next year's budget. "I will make every effort to include the total funding request in the 1991 fiscal budget," Healy wrote. "However, given the severe fiscal constraints which the state is placing on the city, the total may have to be spread across two years."

Residents of Cambridge's poorest and most racially diverse neighborhood have been struggling for several years to get concrete plans for the facility. Although Area Four is the city's most densely populated neighborhood for children, it does not have a teen center, but operates drop-in programs at local elementary schools.

The Area Four Coalition asked that Healy make a commitment within 30 days to reverse the prolonged inactivity on the project in September, said coalition chair Laura E. Conrad. When Healy refused to take immediate action, she said, Benham personally lobbied for the center.

The first steps towards opening the center, said Benham, will be deciding what physical plan is needed to "provide comprehensive services to kids". The proposed site is on city owned property on Harvard St.

Coalition members said that although they appreciated Healy's endorsement, they were suprised Healy chose to notify Benham before contacting the coalition.

"Basically we're very glad that he is willing to commit the money," said Conrad. "It's pretty clear from the wording of the letter that he seems to be trying to cut the neighborhood coalition out of official planning."

Members of the Area Four Coalition also said that helping the community lower the escalating crime and drug rates will be one of many benefits of the teen center.

"We don't like [the issues of] crime and the teen center to be completely intertwined. A lot of people are concerned about crime and drugs, but there are other programs too," Conrad said.

Some of the proposed programs already operating in the community include after-school tutorials and summer employment counseling.

Healy's announcement follows the promise of the members of the new City Council to refuse any budget proposals that did not allocate funds to the building of a teen center for Area Four.

"Places like teen centers can become more than just a place to go. They can be positive alternatives and resources for young persons," said Councillor-elect Jonathan S. Myers.